bill for free health career class materials in high schools

The text as introduced · 592 words

90R2060 KJE-D

By: Howard
H.B. No. 333

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to methods to improve health profession-related career and

technology education and dual credit programs offered by public

schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 29.193 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.193. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR HEALTH

PROFESSION-RELATED PROGRAMS. (a) The agency shall make available

at no cost to school districts high-quality instructional materials

for use in health profession-related career and technology

education programs provided under this subchapter.

(b) The instructional materials under Subsection (a) may

include:

(1) material designed to cover all essential knowledge

and skills for a course offered through a health profession-related

career and technology education program under this subchapter; or

(2) supplemental materials designed to complement,

enrich, or extend a particular subject area included in a health

profession-related career and technology education program under

this subchapter.

SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 61.0666 to read as follows:

Sec. 61.0666. STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF SHARING LABORATORY

RESOURCES FOR HEALTH PROFESSION-RELATED PROGRAMS. (a) The board,

in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, shall study the

feasibility of creating partnerships between public schools and

institutions of higher education to share educational laboratory

resources for purposes of health profession-related career and

technology education programs under this subchapter.

(b) The study must:

(1) identify current educational laboratory resources

at public schools and institutions of higher education that may be

used for health profession-related career and technology education

programs; and

(2) examine methods of creating partnerships,

incentives, or funding mechanisms where appropriate and effective

to facilitate the sharing of educational laboratory resources for

health profession-related career and technology education

programs.

(c) Not later than December 1, 2028, the board, in

collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, shall submit to the

legislature a report on the study required by this section and any

recommendations for legislative or other action.

(d) This section expires September 1, 2029.

SECTION 3. Chapter 2308A, Government Code, is amended by

adding Section 2308A.0075 to read as follows:

Sec. 2308A.0075. REVIEW OF CERTAIN HEALTH

PROFESSION-RELATED DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS. (a) The agency,

coordinating board, and commission jointly shall review the

curriculum of courses in health profession-related career and

technology education programs that are offered for joint high

school and college credit at public schools in this state to ensure

that those programs:

(1) align with requirements for health

profession-related certificate and degree programs at institutions

of higher education; and

(2) allow for the stacking of credentials to reduce

duplication of effort.

(b) The agency, coordinating board, and commission shall

consult with both academic and practicing health care professionals

in conducting the review under Subsection (a).

(c) Not later than December 1, 2028, the agency,

coordinating board, and commission jointly shall submit to the

legislature a report on the review conducted under Subsection (a)

that includes a description of actions taken by those agencies to

accomplish the purposes described by that subsection and any

recommendations for legislative or other action.

(d) This section expires September 1, 2029.

SECTION 4. Section 29.193, Education Code, as added by this

Act, applies beginning with the 2028-2029 school year.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2027.